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Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology

Welcome to the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology

The NHS Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology offers a routine and a 24-hour urgent service to Addenbrooke's and to Primary Care. We are a tertiary referral centre for more specialised work. Virtually all sections of the NHS Department have an active research interest including several areas of ‘translational research. Research includes both local, national and international collaborations. We also have a large training commitment to medical and scientific staff.

The NHS Department, located in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, is a joint Department with the University of Cambridge and is headed by Professor Steve O’Rahilly FRS.

The Department comprises

• Main Clinical Biochemistry Department incorporating the

• Regional Biochemical Genetics Unit and

• Immunology Department
  

We also work closely with the

• Department of Immunogenetics and Tissue Typing at Addenbrooke’s

• West Anglia Pathology Network Departments of Clinical Biochemistry at Hinchingbrooke, Papworth and West Suffolk Hospitals.
  

Currently, we analyse approximately four and a half million tests each year on 700,000 samples.

Our routine service is available Mon-Fri: 0800-2000, and weekends: 0800-1300; outside these times, a 24-hour urgent service is available.

We offer a range of routine tests appropriate to a District General Hospital service as well as a specialised service for clinical fields including:

• Endocrinology and Tumour Markers
  

• Antenatal and Neonatal Screening,
  

• Humoral and Cellular Immunology,
  

• Molecular Biology,
  

• Catecholamines and
  

• Immunosuppression

Virtually all the methods are supported by National Quality Control Schemes and for some assays International Schemes are also used. For many assays we have locally derived reference ranges.

Tertiary-level investigations include:

• Referral service for rare and difficult thyroid problems (as part of the U.K. Supraregional Assay Service)

• Investigation of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

• Assay of specialist hormones related to obesity and diabetes

• A microarray facility offering studies of genomic studies in the area of obesity and diabetes

• Studies of allergy and immune deficiency including cytokine defects